Hey guys,

I've read through a bunch of the threads regarding lighter wheels (wow, there are a lot). Anyway, just wanted to get some opinions regarding my specific situation. I have a Bianchi Via Nirone 105 (aluminum frame) that comes with the Maddux RX 5.1 wheels (front weighs 970 grams and rear weighs 1170 grams, for a total of 2,140 grams). I'm thinking of upgrading the wheels, primarily to take some weight off the bike for climbs. The bike weighs 9.3 kg (20.5 lbs) now. If I get wheels that weigh around 1500 grams (or lighter), I can save about 1.4 pounds, which is pretty significant.

Do you think it's worth it to spend $500 to $1000 on new wheels to save about a pound and a half? Will I actually notice on the climbs? FYI, I weigh 155 lbs, so I guess I can go fairly light without having to worry about breaking spokes on bumps. Any recommendations? At what weight would I be sacrificing durability? Thanks in advance.